Bullet casters melting pot

[Wolfdog91]

Know there's some really good competition level casters on here and looking at getting more serious in that side of the hobby so question.
Favorite melting pot / casting style ( ladle ,bottom pour , other ?).
Looking hard at one of those pots with the built in PID controller and mold guide but so t think I've ever seen comp guys talk about what they like in a pot. Molds and lubes and such yes but never pots. Anyhow super interested to hear what y'all say

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Back in the day I used a Lee production pot with temp control and bottom spout
it did all I needed it to do

 

[DirtySteve]

Casting for rifle or pistol..? If rifle what cartridge and what type of competition?

 

[209jones]

For anything approaching some serious amounts of casting start with a 25lb capacity pot. I used to need 3-500 209gr rifle bullets per week, spend a day casting with a dual cavity mould to supply that every couple of weeks. There are bigger systems that you can occasionally buy used, if a commercial casting op shuts down. Don't waste your time on the 10lb pots, they take about the same amount of time to heat up. I have a 35 yr old Lyman, never used a PID on it, just a thermometer. PID would probably be nicer to use, new 25lb pots all have them anyway, I believe.

 

[dhagerty40]

I still use a Lyman Mag 20 bottom pour pot that I have had for over 30 years and still works great.

When mixing metal, I just use a cast iron pot with a cheap propane stove.

 

[dantiff2]

I've been using the Lee Pro 20lb pot for 18 years +. Works great. If it ever quit, i'd just buy another. I've gotten my money out of it, several times over. I'f i'm going to do a big run, of say a couple thousand pistol bullets, I keep roughly an additional 30 lbs of lead warming in my smelting pot and just ladle it into the bottom pour, every so often to avoid any temperature swings with the Lee.
Dan

 

[White Eagle]

likewise been using a Lee pot for a long while
I am a dipper ladle pouring fool, never used a bottom dripper, ladle does what I want it to do and makes boolits

 

[rockhound78]

I use one of the earlier RCBS Pro Melt I's 20 lb pots. couple of different pots, for different alloys. Used Saeco and Lyman 10 lb. melters for years, but switched to the RCBS and haven't looked back

 

[PhilC]

I have an ancient Lyman 61 that I coupled with a PID worked great until it started dripping uncontrollably. Bought an RCBS ProMelt 2 with integral PID, it's ok, but takes 45mins to melt ingots, 10 or 20lbs, whereas the Lyman would bring the melt to a stabilized 725° in 15 - 20mins. The PM2 also requires you to drop the PID temp to zero and leave it on until the displayed temp drops below 160°.

 

[Herzo]

I have a piece of 1/4" wall 4" square tubing x 4" high that I welded a 1/4" bottom on. Set it on my Turkey cooker and use a Lee dipper to fill my 370 grain mold (a modified Lee Minnie) for my .44-77.